Title
Extremely acidic eukaryotic (Micro) organisms: Life in acid mine drainage polluted environments—mini-review
Date Issued
01 January 2022
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Luís A.T.
Córdoba F.
Antunes C.
Grande J.A.
Silva B.
Diaz-Curiel J.
Da Silva E.F.
Publisher(s)
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Abstract
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) results from sulfide oxidation, which incorporates hydrogen ions, sulfate, and metals/metalloids into the aquatic environment, allowing fixation, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of pollutants in the aquatic food chain. Acidic leachates from waste rock dams from pyritic and (to a lesser extent) coal mining are the main foci of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) production. WhenAMDis incorporated into rivers, notable changes in water hydro-geochemistry and biota are observed. There is a high interest in the biodiversity of this type of extreme environments for several reasons. Studies indicate that extreme acid environments may reflect early Earth conditions, and are thus, suitable for astrobiological experiments as acidophilic microorganisms survive on the sulfates and iron oxides in AMD-contaminated waters/sediments, an analogous environment to Mars, other reasons are related to the biotechnological potential of extremophiles. In addition, AMD is responsible for decreasing the diversity and abundance of different taxa, as well as for selecting the most well-adapted species to these toxic conditions. Acidophilic and acidotolerant eukaryotic microorganisms are mostly composed by algae (diatoms and unicellular and filamentous algae), protozoa, fungi and fungi-like protists, and unsegmented pseudocoelomata animals such as Rotifera and micro-macroinvertebrates. In this work, a literature review summarizing the most recent studies on eukaryotic organisms and micro-organisms in Acid Mine Drainage-affected environments is elaborated.
Volume
19
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Métodos de investigación bioquímica
Conservación de la Biodiversidad
Geoquímica, Geofísica
Biología celular, Microbiología
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85122303415
PubMed ID
Source
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
ISSN of the container
16617827
Sponsor(s)
Conclusions In general, stress conditions may benefit the increase of secondary consumers, chang-ing, considerably, the food chain shape [103]. This phenomenon has been described for ganismsinAMD-afmacroinvertfectedeenvirbratesonments.from AMDThisimpactmini-red steviewreamssummarizes[100] andtheimpeukaryoticlies major shifts in re-groupsinhabitingsourcetheseutilenvirisation, posonments.siblyAMDreduafcinfectsg ththee nuormber of trophic levelsganisms inhabiting theand waterconsequently sim-plifying the food web. While these ecological processes still need further analysis in AMD alongwithlowenvironments, they can expH. AMD-provoked changesplain the in theuse ecologicalof Tanypoenvirdinaonmente as bioindat ibothcatorthes. This is because AMD leads to a significant change in the community structure of chironomid larvae. On the other hand, the taxonomic richness within the Chironomidae remains stable in acid mechanismstomine drainage because the these extreme conditions surviveloss of sensitand succeedive spec[ies is c123]. ompensated for by tolerant species [100]. Sites with severe AMD have a significant decrease in abundance of stationary col-consequences loefctmori-nfiilntgereerx pplroerya t(ipornimtharroiluyg Hh ytdherocpesnytcuhriideas,e,w ciatdhdbisiofl-ieasntdhaetcoo-cfcruiern idnl yhigh densities), solutions havinsghopwarintigcu tlhaartabpopteha lt.he diversity and abundance of macroinvertebrate prey decreases as New applAicMatiDo nims upsaicntginthcreesaeseexst[r1e2m1e]. oTrhguasn,isAmMsDincboinottaemchinnoaltoiogny sainteds acsatnr ohbaivoelo hgiygh biodiversity studies are thebmecaainusree aosfohnigfohr ttohleeirrasnttusdpyecaiteps rreiscehnnte.sAs,n aesxwamellp alesicsoanrseidceenratbslteudvayroiafbtihliety in metal tol-Tintillo River [1e2ra4n],cceoanmtaomnign amteadcrboyinRvíeortTeibnrtaotein taHxuaealvnad, sSppeaciine,sw (Bhyerrneeb eatc taelr.,i a2l0f1il2a)m. Wenhtesn compared to and diatoms arreefcearpeanbclee soitfefso, rtmhein fgunircotniosntarol mdiavteorlsititeys oasf mlamacirnoaitnevdersteedbirmateenst aisr lsetsrsuecntuerde,sa.nd their func-Furthermore, tthioenaaclt isvtreubcitousroer ipst miouncahnsdimbipolleera [c1h2in2]g. of sulfur are suggested by the black and white coloration of microbial filaments inside these stromatolites. AMD systems are hazardous to p4h.y Csiocanlc,lcuhseimonicsa l, and biological agents; however, they also provide valuable biogeochemicalinformationThis research whichstudy cansouaidght into put ininferringevidpastence the geochemicalimportance oconditionsf extronemophile organ-Earth,andperhapsisms inevenAMDother-affected planetsenvirsuchonments. This minas Mars. i-review summarizes the eukaryotic groups inhabiting these environments. AMD affects the organisms inhabiting the water and sed-Author Contributions: Conceptualization, A.T.L.; Investigation, A.T.L., C.A., F.C. and R.L.-M.; iment substrates, which are subjected to high concentrations of metals and sulfates along supervision, E.F.d.S.; resources, J.D.-C.; writing—original draft preparation, A.T.L. and C.A.; writing— with low pH. AMD-provoked changes in the ecological environment at both the commu-review and editing, B.S., F.C. and J.A.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of themanuscript.nity level and the individual level are responsible for species disappearance and the loss of diversity and abundance. Only those organisms capable of developing adaptation Funding:Thisresearmechanich receivedsms to these extno externalrfunding.eme conditions survive and succeed [123]. Institutional ReviewFBuoratrhdeSr traetseemaerncht: iNno tthaips palriecaabilse c. rucial in order to minimize the evident environmental consequences of mining exploration through the centuries, with bio-and eco-friendly so-Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable. lutions having particular appeal. Acknowledgments:TheNew applicauthors arations using the grateful to theese extreme oDepartment ofrGeosciencesganisms in biotof theechnologUniversityy and aof strobiology Aveiro,Portugal,stwherudiees thisare tworkhe mawasin redeveloped.ason for tWehealsoir stthankudy atthepresent. An exLic. Karen VelásquezampleRodris a recent íguez study of the andFiorellaLaMattaTintillo RomerRiveor [1for24the], contmacramoinvertebrinated byateRmicrío Tintophotographs.o in Huelva, AllSpathein,otherwhere bphotosacterial filaments are original and never published before. AT Luís is funded by national funds (OE) through FCT— and diatoms are capable of forming iron stromatolites as laminated sedimentar structures. Furthermore, the active biosorption and bioleaching of sulfur are suggested by the black and white coloration of microbial filaments inside these stromatolites. AMD systems are hazardous to physical, chemical, and biological agents; however, they also provide valuable biogeochemical information which can aid in inferring past geochemical conditions on Earth, and perhaps even other planets such as Mars.
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